Catherine Lévesque

Catherine Lévesque

Citizen groups, farmers and MPs to protest Alto high-speed rail project on Parliament Hill

Conservative and Bloc Québécois MPs will be alongside agricultural producers and citizen groups from Quebec and Ontario to oppose Alto's high-speed rail project. The demonstration is expected to rally hundreds of people on Parliament Hill around noon. A press release from l'Union des producteurs agricoles, a trade union representing agricultural workers in Quebec, said the protest aims to raise awareness...

Catherine Lévesque

Stéphane Dion calls on Canada to become member of the 'European Political Community'

Former Liberal leader and minister Stéphane Dion is not calling on Canada to become a member of the European Union (EU) — but rather a “full and integral member” of the European Political Community (EPC) to reinforce ties with the continent. Dion, who until recently served as Canada’s ambassador to France and Germany and special envoy to the EU, made...

Catherine Lévesque, Stephanie Taylor

Steven Guilbeault announces he will resign his seat this summer, remain as Liberal MP until then

Catherine Lévesque

Liberal climate caucus co-chair says he ‘absolutely’ supports Carney’s policies

The co-chair of the Liberal climate caucus told the National Post that he “absolutely” supports Prime Minister Mark Carney’s approach to climate change policy. Éric St-Pierre has been conspicuously avoiding interviews about the caucus that he co-created to bring climate change issues back to the forefront of the government’s agenda ever since he gave an interview to Radio-Canada revealing the...

Catherine Lévesque

Steven Guilbeault evasive about political future after criticizing major projects reform

Liberal MP Steven Guilbeault, a former federal environment minister, remained evasive about his political future after starkly criticizing his government’s new proposal to speed up Canada’s regulatory process for major projects. Guilbeault has been the talk of the town in Ottawa ever since he said in media interviews on Friday and over the weekend that Prime Minister Mark Carney’s proposed...

Catherine Lévesque

Éric Duhaime is hoping to make 'history' with Quebec Conservatives. Will he?

Quebec’s Conservative Party Leader Éric Duhaime says he is hoping to make history in this fall’s provincial election. Article content More than five years after taking the helm of the party, Duhaime, 57, now sees an opportunity to elect not one, not two, but at least 12 members of the National Assembly (MNAs), which would guarantee that the provincial Conservatives...

Catherine Lévesque

Are Mark Carney and Pierre Poilievre burgeoning bros or frenemies?

Speaking at the National Prayer Breakfast in Ottawa last week, Prime Minister Mark Carney ended his remarks by making a tongue-in-cheek comment to Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre, who was sitting at the head table with him. “I know there are some stoics in the room,” said Carney, glancing at Poilievre. “So, I will close by channeling Marcus Aurelius,” added the...

Catherine Lévesque

Meet Charles Milliard, the man who could spare Canada a third Quebec referendum

As soon as he stepped inside the café, Charles Milliard began turning heads. Among those enjoying their coffee who spotted the new Quebec Liberal Party leader as he made his way through Café Hubert Saint-Jean, located in the province’s Eastern Townships, was Normand Duval.

Catherine Lévesque

Liberals are almost guaranteed a majority — but 172 seats would be a 'poison pill'

Until last week, the federal byelection in Terrebonne was supposed to help push Prime Minister Mark Carney’s government to a majority. Now, as one Liberal operative puts it, a win in the Montreal-area riding would ensure a more “secure” majority. While NDP MP Lori Idlout’s decision to cross the floor to the Liberals has eased off some of the pressure...

Catherine Lévesque

Nobody wants to say the M-word ahead of this crucial Quebec byelection next month

Bloc Québécois to focus on local issues — not blocking Carney’s majority — in Terrebonne. Bloc Québécois House Leader Christine Normandin dismissed the idea that her party may be the one to block Prime Minister Mark Carney’s path to forming a majority government in a crucial byelection held in the suburbs of Montreal next month. “The idea of halting a...

Catherine Lévesque, Stephanie Taylor

Why Mark Carney got chippy with a reporter over what an 'unnamed government official' said

Prime Minister Mark Carney got a little bit chippy when asked by a National Post reporter if he agreed with an unnamed government official who downplayed India’s role in transnational repression and foreign interference in a briefing last week.

Catherine Lévesque

Liberals assure Trump: 'no pursuit' of free trade with China, after 100% tariff threat

Prime Minister Mark Carney’s Liberal government is pushing back against U.S. President Donald Trump’s latest threat to impose 100 per cent tariffs on Canada if Ottawa makes a free trade deal with China, insisting there is no such deal in the works. Article content After Trump delivered the ultimatum on Saturday, Minister for Canada-U.S. Trade, Dominic LeBlanc, posted a response...

Catherine Lévesque

With a rising threat of separatism in Quebec, Carney's Liberals don't have a strategy yet

Former Quebec lieutenant Steven Guilbeault had started to map out a federal strategy to respond to the PQ, but it was very early stages, Liberal sources said. As Canada prepares to enter 2026 which could see the Parti Québécois (PQ) take power in Quebec and enact its promise of a third referendum, it remains unclear what, if anything, Prime Minister...

Catherine Lévesque

Conservatives hope to expose cracks in Liberal caucus with oil pipeline motion

Conservatives are planning to force a debate and a vote in the House of Commons Tuesday about the recent deal struck by Ottawa and Alberta to build a new oil pipeline on the West Coast, in hopes of exposing divisions inside the Liberal caucus. The motion, brought forward by Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre, calls on MPs to “take note” of...

Catherine Lévesque

Pipeline politics are making strange bedfellows, as Bloc leader and B.C. premier meet up

A potential pipeline to the West Coast has created strange political bedfellows. Bloc Québécois Leader Yves-François Blanchet held a meeting with British Columbia Premier David Eby on Dec. 2, only days after the federal government signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) with Alberta paving the way for a new bitumen pipeline. Blanchet offered his help to B.C. last week —...

Catherine Lévesque

Michael Sabia divested his Brookfield shares to 'better manage' Carney's conflict-of-interest screen

The clerk of the Privy Council, Michael Sabia, who is one of two senior aides managing Prime Minister Mark Carney’s extensive conflict-of-interest screen, was informed by the ethics commissioner weeks into his new job in Ottawa he had investments in Brookfield Corporation.

Catherine Lévesque

Here are three scenarios — including a Christmas election — that could happen with Monday’s budget vote

Prime Minister Mark Carney’s minority government will face a crucial test on Monday, Nov. 17, as it will face a third and final confidence vote on his budget, Already, Conservatives and the Bloc Québécois have said their MPs would be voting against the government’s fiscal plan, leaving few options for the Liberals to find the two votes needed in the...

Catherine Lévesque

Canada may face ‘punitive measures’ for recognizing Palestinian state: U.S. Republicans

A group of U.S. Republicans warned Prime Minister Mark Carney and allied nations on Friday that recognizing the Palestinian state may invite “punitive measures in response” for being “at odds” with longstanding U.S. foreign policy. In an open letter, 25 Republican members of Congress and Senators called on Carney to “reconsider” his government’s decision. Carney formally recognized the Palestinian state...

Catherine Lévesque, Simon Tuck

The next 100 days for Mark Carney: The honeymoon is over for the freshman PM

At home and abroad, the next four months will be more challenging than the first four — and cracks are showing in his leadership. As Prime Minister Mark Carney’s Liberal government embarks on its first full parliamentary session, Canadians are sending a clear message: The honeymoon is over and we need to see more results. “The fall will be critical,”...

Catherine Lévesque

The NDP leadership is underway — and the party is limiting signatures from 'cis' men

Prospective federal NDP leadership candidates will have to raise $100,000 and amass 500 signatures from members — most of which cannot come from cisgender men — to be officially in the running, according to rules that were released on Tuesday.

Stephanie Taylor, Catherine Lévesque

Despite calls for change, Poilievre's campaign manager keeps an advisory role, firm on party payroll

As federal Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre faces calls to make changes following his April election loss, the manager who ran that campaign remains an advisor, but is taking a less visible role, at least for now. Jenni Byrne’s future with the party has been a source of discussion among MPs and other Conservative supporters frustrated by the party’s loss to...

Catherine Lévesque

'This is worrisome': Mass layoffs, shutdowns feared as Trump's copper tariffs loom

U.S. President Donald Trump’s vow this week that he will impose heavy tariffs on copper imports on Aug. 1 is of particular cause for concern in Quebec, which harbours Canada’s only copper smelting facility and a major refinery that do significant business across the border. “There’s an impression of déjà vu,” said Emmanuelle Toussaint, president and CEO of the Quebec...

Catherine Lévesque

Carney set to call mid-August Alberta byelection, clearing Poilievre's path to a new seat

Poilievre has been without a seat in the House since he was defeated in the Ottawa-area riding of Carleton. Prime Minister Mark Carney is expected to call a byelection on Monday in the Alberta riding of Battle River—Crowfoot, where Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre will be looking to regain a seat, the National Post has learned. Voters will be called to...

Catherine Lévesque

After agreeing to 30-day timeline, Mark Carney now says ‘nothing’s assured’ on deal with U.S.

Prime Minister Mark Carney lowered expectations on Monday about reaching an agreement with the United States for an economic and security pact by July 21. Speaking in Brussels, where he signed a defence partnership with the European Union (EU), Carney was asked which options Canada would be considering, besides higher tariffs on U.S. steel and aluminum, if he does not...

Catherine Lévesque

Carney to present 'small, focused' cabinet of less than 30 ministers and up to 10 secretaries of state

Among the names to watch for are Tim Hodgson, Carlos Leitao and former Vancouver mayor Gregor Robertson. Prime Minister Mark Carney will be at Rideau Hall on Tuesday to unveil the team that he promised in his victory speech on election night would “do things previously thought impossible at speeds we haven’t seen generations.” Carney will be presenting a “small...

Catherine Lévesque, Catherine Lévesque

Carney to present 'small, focused' cabinet of fewer than 30 ministers and 10 secretaries of state

Among the names to watch for are Tim Hodgson, Carlos Leitao and former Vancouver mayor Gregor Robertson

Christopher Nardi, Catherine Lévesque

Conservative MPs vote for 'largely procedural' power to trigger leadership review of Poilievre

'You have to acknowledge that it was the generally right message... because the Liberals stole multiple elements,' said Poilievre.

Catherine Lévesque

Conservatives expected to point fingers at Jenni Byrne during election post-mortem

'If we had won, everything would have been forgotten,' one MP told National Post. Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre is expected to hear on Tuesday from caucus members’ discontent over mistakes made over the course of the campaign, with fingers pointing to campaign manager Jenni Byrne.

Catherine Lévesque

The Liberals may have lost seats in Ontario — and their majority — because of crime and Trudeau fatigue

In the first weeks of the campaign, Liberal incumbent Helena Jaczek said decided voters she met at the doors were intent on voting for Mark Carney because they thought he was the best person to deal with U.S. President Donald Trump. “As time went on and Mr. Trump was less vocal, and perhaps as (Conservative Leader Pierre) Poilievre softened his...

Catherine Lévesque

Melanie Joly calls for 'majority' Liberal government days away from election

Other speakers who took the stage at the Laval rally did not go nearly as far as Joly did

Catherine Lévesque

Carney apologizes for fake Trump-style buttons, Liberal staffers 'reassigned'

Liberal Leader Mark Carney said on Monday he was “unaware” that Liberal staffers had planted some fake Trump-style buttons at a Conservative conference last week but nonetheless apologized for this “unreservedly” on behalf on his campaign. “This is totally unacceptable, to be absolutely clear,” he said at a campaign stop in Montreal in response to CBC News, who broke the...

Catherine Lévesque

Carney says Paul Chiang has his 'confidence,' despite 'terrible lapse of judgment'

Liberal Leader Mark Carney said he will not be dropping Paul Chiang from the race in Markham–Unionville, despite the candidate’s comments about handing over a Conservative candidate to Chinese authorities to collect a lucrative bounty. Carney said he was “deeply offended” by those comments and said they demonstrated a “terrible lapse of judgment,” but believes this episode amounts to a...

Catherine Lévesque

Mark Carney faces plagiarism accusations for 1995 Oxford doctoral thesis

Carney's doctorate in economics from Oxford shows 10 instances of apparent plagiarism, according to academics who reviewed the material

Catherine Lévesque

Federal parties gearing up for early election 'any day now' despite trade war

Mark Carney signalled last month he is willing to call an early general election should he become Liberal leader. While Canadians may be looking at job losses and a recession in the next few weeks due to U.S. President Donald Trump’s decision to launch a trade war with a close ally and partner, they could also be called to the...

Catherine Lévesque, Stephanie Taylor, Patti Sonntag

Carney says he resigned from 'all' his roles to run for Liberal leadership. Turns out he hasn't

Liberal leadership candidate Mark Carney has not yet resigned from his multiple international board positions, despite claiming this week that he had stepped down from all his roles to be “all in” on his bid to become Canada’s next prime minister. National Post contacted nearly two dozen organizations that Carney had public links to until recently. While he resigned from...

Stephanie Taylor, Catherine Lévesque

'Why would I enter a burning building?' Some Liberals say a chance at Trudeau's cabinet not worth it

The prime minister faces calls to resign, with some Liberals saying it is the only hope the party has against the Conservatives. As Prime Minister Justin Trudeau prepares to name his new cabinet, some Liberals say the chance of serving in it has lost its appeal, following the chaos-causing departure of Chrystia Freeland.

Catherine Lévesque

'I was feeling trapped': Ex-senator's former employee describes alleged sexual assaults

Don Meredith is on trial, facing three counts of sexual assault and one count of criminal harassment against a former employee from when he was a senator

Catherine Lévesque

Trudeau says he expects Montreal rioters to be 'pursued and punished'

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau on Monday called violent protests that took place outside a NATO meeting days prior “absolutely unacceptable” and said he expects the perpetrators to face consequences. “As a democracy, as a country that will always defend freedom of speech, it’s important for people to be able to go out and protest and express their anger, their disagreements...

Stephanie Taylor, Catherine Lévesque

From 'maple syrup MAGA' to 'Team Canada': Why Liberals shouldn't count on Poilievre as they navigate Trump

Trudeau's attempt to revive his 'Team Canada' approach comes after more than a year of the Liberals releasing videos attacking Poilievre by comparing him to Trump. If Prime Minister Justin Trudeau is counting on his Conservative opponent to offer support as the Liberals navigate a second Donald Trump presidency, he shouldn’t.

Catherine Lévesque

'It hurts': Sophie Grégoire speaks on cutting ties and bouncing back from heartbreak

Sophie Grégoire said she suffered from chronic stress as a result of threats to Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and her family, and said their split still hurts to this day. Grégoire, 49, was a guest during a virtual wellness summit called “Bouncing Back from a Broken Heart” on Friday where she discussed the end of her 18-year marriage to Trudeau...

Catherine Lévesque

No ‘time to waste’: Jean Chrétien's former right-hand man asks Justin Trudeau to step down

One of Jean Chrétien’s closest advisors is making the case for Justin Trudeau to leave politics to embrace a bigger cause — the unity of his country. Eddie Goldenberg, who was Chrétien’s right-hand man for decades and served as chief of staff and senior policy advisor during his years in power, penned a piece called “Justin Trudeau’s Obligation to Canada”...

Catherine Lévesque

'There was wishful thinking that he'd come to his senses': Liberal MP Sean Casey explains why he's calling for Trudeau to go

Liberal MP Sean Casey said he was still hopeful until last week that Prime Minister Justin Trudeau would decide to step down and trigger a leadership race, but that has not happened, and Casey felt he owed it to his constituents to speak out.

Catherine Lévesque

Liberal minister's former business associate could soon be found in contempt in 'other Randy' saga

Parliament has been seized by a question of privilege regarding the so-called green slush fund for the past week. But should that get sorted, MPs will be turning their attention to a second question of privilege — this time, about the “other Randy” controversy. At the heart of the issue is whether Employment Minister Randy Boissonnault breached ethics laws in...

Catherine Lévesque

Why Conservatives are supporting an increase for old age pensions — and why it's risky

Conservatives are not committing to implementing the BQ’s desired boost for benefits for seniors 65 to 74 if they form government — but if they do, it will come at the expense of finding $16 billion in savings over five years, says the leader’s Quebec lieutenant. Pierre Poilievre’s caucus raised a few eyebrows when it supported a Bloc Québécois motion...

Catherine Lévesque

Anaida Poilievre discusses stoicism and feminism in first podcast interview

Anaida Poilievre has been taking on a more prominent role in helping husband Pierre campaign to become the next prime minister of Canada, and is not shy to share her views, whether it’s about the Venezuelan election results or CTV’s recent blunder.

Catherine Lévesque

Boissonnault admits he spoke to business partner in 2022 as MPs try to find the 'other Randy'

Employment Minister Randy Boissonnault admitted he briefly spoke on the phone and exchanged text messages with his former business partner in 2022, but only because Purolator mistakenly reached out to him about an account. Boissonnault was on the hot seat at the House of Commons ethics committee on Thursday for the second time in recent months to answer questions about...

Catherine Lévesque

Prorogation of Parliament would present 'more risk than reward' for Liberals — unless Trudeau steps down

Liberals will be entering a new parliamentary session next week with Prime Minister Justin Trudeau at the helm of the party, still 20 points behind in the polls with no apparent plan to reverse course and with its deal with the NDP ripped to shreds. And there is a possibility that the Liberals lose a seat in a Montreal stronghold, too.

Catherine Lévesque, Ryan Tumilty, Stuart Thomson

Who's next? The contenders to replace a troubled Justin Trudeau

The PM's chances of winning a fourth term range from slim to none. Here's 10 who could step up if he steps down

Catherine Lévesque

'A caucus sleepwalking to its death': Liberals show little interest in following U.S. Democrats' upheaval

While developments in U.S. presidential politics unfold with lighting speed, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau is enjoying quiet walks on the beach as he vacations in British Columbia, seemingly untroubled by any pressure to step aside for his party, as President Joe Biden recently did.

Catherine Lévesque

Poilievre would repeal online harms bill after PBO report finds $200 million in new bureaucracy

Conservatives are promising to scrap the proposed federal online harms bill after the latest report from the Parliamentary Budget Officer (PBO) found that it would create more than $200 million in new bureaucracy. Bill C-63 would establish three new entities: the Digital Safety Commission, which is mandated to enforce the act and has the power to issue monetary penalties and...

Catherine Lévesque

'I don't think it's constructive': Dominic LeBlanc downplays Liberal MP's call for Trudeau to resign

'Byelections are byelections. They're not general elections,' the public safety minister said. Two Liberal cabinet ministers from New Brunswick are distancing themselves from their colleague’s call for Prime Minister Justin Trudeau to resign.

Catherine Lévesque

Conservatives and NDP at odds over how much committee work to do over the summer

Conservatives insist that some committees should keep sitting to continue investigating ethical concerns concerning the Liberal government

Catherine Lévesque

Jagmeet Singh says he is 'more concerned' after reading NSICOP report, calls named MPs 'traitors'

NDP Leader Jagmeet Singh said he is more convinced than ever that fellow parliamentarians are “wittingly” engaging in foreign interference after reading the unredacted version of a bombshell report and that they are “traitors” to Canada. On Wednesday, Singh became the second party leader to read the entire report by the National Security and Intelligence Committee of Parliamentarians (NSICOP) but...

Ryan Tumilty, Catherine Lévesque

MPs demand names of colleagues colluding with foreign powers: 'Reflects poorly on the rest of us'

Parliament Hill remained in the dark Wednesday about which MPs are “wittingly” helping foreign powers after a shocking intelligence report alleged some MPs receive help from countries like China and India.

Catherine Lévesque

Former Liberal foreign minister says Canada no longer 'useful' in world affairs: 'We...lost our bearings'

Canada is good at pointing fingers at other countries but is missing in action on the international scene when it is most needed, said former Liberal deputy prime minister and foreign affairs minister John Manley on the podcast The Global Exchange. Manley, who famously said two decades ag

Catherine Lévesque

Ethics committee to meet this week to discuss probe on Justin Trudeau's latest trip to Jamaica

MPs could be meeting as soon as Wednesday to discuss Prime Minister Justin Trudeau’s holiday vacation to Jamaica that was a $84,000 gift from family friends. Michael Barrett, a Conservative MP and ethics critic, said in a video posted on X that the parliamentary committee on ethics is being recalled this week because “it’s extremely important” that MPs find out...